ARCHIVE: oneworld / Explorer Awards Using AA Miles info
Jun 24, 2009, 5:52 pm
#1232
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Diamond, CO Silver, AAdavantage, USAIR
Posts: 84
ok, so that means there is less restrictions? i am using my miles, so then i should be fine? thanks.
Jun 25, 2009, 9:45 am
#1233
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,204
FWIW:
I've been researching two awards, both with several RJ flights. But, when attempting to book these flight, the agents can't find seats even though ba.com shows ample award inventory.
With each itinerary, I was able to easily book my desired flights on the third or fourth call to the EXP desk. When I pressed the agents on how/why they could do what their colleagues could not, they said they knew that when booking some partners (not just RJ) they needed to use an older system. One agent referred to this system as "QUICKRES". (I don't know if this is a proper system name or just the agent's pet name for an old system.)
YMMV.
I've been researching two awards, both with several RJ flights. But, when attempting to book these flight, the agents can't find seats even though ba.com shows ample award inventory.
With each itinerary, I was able to easily book my desired flights on the third or fourth call to the EXP desk. When I pressed the agents on how/why they could do what their colleagues could not, they said they knew that when booking some partners (not just RJ) they needed to use an older system. One agent referred to this system as "QUICKRES". (I don't know if this is a proper system name or just the agent's pet name for an old system.)
YMMV.
Does this mean that if agents use "QUICKRES," they will be able to see the availability (e.g. RJ)?
Jun 25, 2009, 12:49 pm
#1234
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 6MM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,244
Sınce I posted what I learned about QUICKRES, I have needed to make several changes to my orıgınal bookıngs and each tıme I have encountered the followıng pattern:
'No, sır. No availability.'
I say, 'But I can get that award seat wıth my BA or QF mıles. Are you sure there's nothıng available through QUICKRES?'
'Can you please hold on, Mr. LRD?' <ten mınutes on hold...> 'Yes, sır. I have those flıghts booked for you!'
Jun 25, 2009, 2:22 pm
#1235
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA, UA, SW, Jetblue
Posts: 4
Hi - I'm new.
I believe I've read all the rules pertaining to OW using AA awards and I'm embarrassed to say that I'm still learning the airport codes. Your advice would be really appreciated. Finally after 3 years, we are planning our honeymoon and quiting our jobs - all at once!
1.We have 275K saved up for 2 tix in Business and are flexible within a week either way of the dates below. We would like to:
2. depart SFO on 5/3/10
3. Return to SFO on 8/12/10
4. visit ams and dps for sure. Sri Lanka would be next on the wish list.
Questions: Where else could we go/recommeneded within 20K miles?
Am I correct that I can not book this before 8/11/09 (-5 days on hold) because of the 1 year rule? Waiting that long, is it likely that we will get our itinerary in Business outbound on May 3? To get a Cathay flight to AMS, would it work to fly SFO to toronto on AA and from Toronto to AMS on Cathay? How I wish I could just sit down with one of you smarty pants and have you help me work out a trip and be there on another line when I call an agent to book (I'm terrified of them). If you live in the SF Bay Area, I would take you out for the best lunch or give you our first born (but she's over in Ghana doing relief work and may be reluctant). If you want to contact me directly, I'm at [email protected]. Thanks so much!!!!! Lauren
1.We have 275K saved up for 2 tix in Business and are flexible within a week either way of the dates below. We would like to:
2. depart SFO on 5/3/10
3. Return to SFO on 8/12/10
4. visit ams and dps for sure. Sri Lanka would be next on the wish list.
Questions: Where else could we go/recommeneded within 20K miles?
Am I correct that I can not book this before 8/11/09 (-5 days on hold) because of the 1 year rule? Waiting that long, is it likely that we will get our itinerary in Business outbound on May 3? To get a Cathay flight to AMS, would it work to fly SFO to toronto on AA and from Toronto to AMS on Cathay? How I wish I could just sit down with one of you smarty pants and have you help me work out a trip and be there on another line when I call an agent to book (I'm terrified of them). If you live in the SF Bay Area, I would take you out for the best lunch or give you our first born (but she's over in Ghana doing relief work and may be reluctant). If you want to contact me directly, I'm at [email protected]. Thanks so much!!!!! Lauren
Jun 25, 2009, 8:31 pm
#1236
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,204
Sorta. QUICKRES ıs an older system, and one of my 'good' agents made a comment that newer agents never learned (suffıcıently?) QUICKRES. So, my hunch ıs that -- when pressed -- newer agents go off to consult wıth a supervısor and/or more experıenced agents ın how to see (and grab) award ınventory vıa QUICKRES.
Sınce I posted what I learned about QUICKRES, I have needed to make several changes to my orıgınal bookıngs and each tıme I have encountered the followıng pattern:
'No, sır. No availability.'
I say, 'But I can get that award seat wıth my BA or QF mıles. Are you sure there's nothıng available through QUICKRES?'
'Can you please hold on, Mr. LRD?' <ten mınutes on hold...> 'Yes, sır. I have those flıghts booked for you!'
Sınce I posted what I learned about QUICKRES, I have needed to make several changes to my orıgınal bookıngs and each tıme I have encountered the followıng pattern:
'No, sır. No availability.'
I say, 'But I can get that award seat wıth my BA or QF mıles. Are you sure there's nothıng available through QUICKRES?'
'Can you please hold on, Mr. LRD?' <ten mınutes on hold...> 'Yes, sır. I have those flıghts booked for you!'
One sounded offended when I asked about QUICKRES. One said that it is the same with the new system. It is just frustrating to see that BA shows wide availability and AA sees none. One more question - I know that changing of routing is not allowed once ticketed.
Is change of co-terminals allowed?
Jun 25, 2009, 9:35 pm
#1237
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,246
May be a dumb question but have you used the interactive map on oneworld.com? I find it very useful to find routings easily, and then you can see what is possible. Unfortunately it doesn't use airport codes so it does not help you learn them!
http://www.innovata-llc.com/onw/default.asp?show=MAP
I don't know for certain about when you can start booking, but I can tell you from my experience I have found it very easy to find J (business class) award availability for my recent ticket that is starting just 8 weeks from now. I think you'll be OK as long as you have a couple days flexibility.
http://www.innovata-llc.com/onw/default.asp?show=MAP
I don't know for certain about when you can start booking, but I can tell you from my experience I have found it very easy to find J (business class) award availability for my recent ticket that is starting just 8 weeks from now. I think you'll be OK as long as you have a couple days flexibility.
Jun 26, 2009, 5:38 am
#1238
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 6MM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,244
Thanks. Have called three agents and none worked for me. One sounded offended when I asked about QUICKRES. One said that it is the same with the new system. It is just frustrating to see that BA shows wide availability and AA sees none.
One more question - I know that changing of routing is not allowed once ticketed.
Is change of co-terminals allowed?
One sounded offended when I asked about QUICKRES. One said that it is the same with the new system. It is just frustrating to see that BA shows wide availability and AA sees none. One more question - I know that changing of routing is not allowed once ticketed.
Is change of co-terminals allowed?
With the current system, called ACORN (aka "Direct Access"), the agent sees inventory... tap tap tap, and presto! all requested segments get instant confirmation.
With QUICKRES, I believe the agent must wait on the remote system to send back confirmation. (Just guessing... but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the confirmation required a real live human on the remote system to complete the transaction.) In either case, agents might loathe working in this system for no other reason than it makes their call-completion stats go to hell.
I am afraid that I cannot answer your question on co-terms.
Last edited by LRD; Jul 23, 2009 at 8:23 am
Jun 26, 2009, 10:14 am
#1239
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,204
Sorry you were not successful.
With the current system, called Direct Access, the agent sees inventory... tap tap tap, and presto! all requested segments get instant confirmation.
With QUICKRES, an agent must wait on the remote system to send back confirmation. Just guessing... but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the confirmation required a real live human to complete the transaction. In either case, agents might loathe working in this system for no other reason than it makes their call-completion stats go to hell.
I am afraid that I cannot answer your question on co-terms.
With the current system, called Direct Access, the agent sees inventory... tap tap tap, and presto! all requested segments get instant confirmation.
With QUICKRES, an agent must wait on the remote system to send back confirmation. Just guessing... but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the confirmation required a real live human to complete the transaction. In either case, agents might loathe working in this system for no other reason than it makes their call-completion stats go to hell.
I am afraid that I cannot answer your question on co-terms.
Regarding change of co-terminals, AA said no. I did some search on FT, it is the same - no.
Jun 26, 2009, 4:24 pm
#1240
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,769
Surface sector - where does the stopover count?
If I do the following itinerary how do AA count the MEL//SYD surface sector - a stop in MEL, a stop in SYD or a stop in both. Important because I want a stopover in SYD on the second pass.
LAX-MEL//SYD-JNB-SYD-LAX
LAX-MEL//SYD-JNB-SYD-LAX
Jun 26, 2009, 6:13 pm
#1241
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,204
It would be counted as an open jaw and a stopover in SYD. You can only have one stopover in a city.
Jun 26, 2009, 10:52 pm
#1242
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,204
Sorry you were not successful.
With the current system, called Direct Access, the agent sees inventory... tap tap tap, and presto! all requested segments get instant confirmation.
With QUICKRES, an agent must wait on the remote system to send back confirmation. Just guessing... but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the confirmation required a real live human to complete the transaction. In either case, agents might loathe working in this system for no other reason than it makes their call-completion stats go to hell.
With the current system, called Direct Access, the agent sees inventory... tap tap tap, and presto! all requested segments get instant confirmation.
With QUICKRES, an agent must wait on the remote system to send back confirmation. Just guessing... but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the confirmation required a real live human to complete the transaction. In either case, agents might loathe working in this system for no other reason than it makes their call-completion stats go to hell.
Some agents could not see them but some could.
Jun 26, 2009, 11:14 pm
#1243
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 6MM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,244
Jun 26, 2009, 11:20 pm
#1244
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,204
Thanks, LRD and also to your sharing of what you have learned. How I wish AA has a website like BA for checking OW partners' availability.
Jun 27, 2009, 11:32 am
#1245
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,246
What is the penalty for mileage redeposit if you cancel an award itinerary without any travel?
Thanks
Thanks